Russell Kevin Nielsen

Russell Nielsen

Payson, Formerly of Glenwood

Russell Kevin Nielsen, formerly of Glenwood, died at his home in Payson on November 5, 2015, after a 21-year battle with Type 2 Diabetes. He was 55. Russell was born September 13, 1960, in Salt Lake City to Thad and Nedra Hunt Nielsen. He was raised in Salt Lake City and moved to Richfield in high school. There he met Cindy Doxstater, and they were married in Richfield on June 30, 1979. The marriage was solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple on November 22, 1980.

Russell worked as a lab technician for U.S. Gypsum in Sigurd, retiring after 31 years. He and Cindy moved to Payson in 2012 for better access to his doctors as he continued to battle complications from diabetes. Though it was hard to leave their home of 30 years in Glenwood, Russell and Cindy were happy to find a new home mere blocks from the Payson Temple.

Russell had a fun-loving personality, and was forever teasing people. He had a soft spot for animals, especially dogs. He loved to fish, hunt, golf, watch sports, work in the yard, and listen to the music of his youth—the Beatles, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and everything in between.

Russell served in various church callings over the years including financial clerk, Scout leader, and elders quorum secretary. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters. "Grandpa" was his favorite title.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Cindy; four children: Lisa (Bradley) Young, Vidalia, GA.; Kevin (Grace) Nielsen, Washington Terrace; Shawn (Kaelee) Nielsen, Cedar City; and Sister Melanie Nielsen, serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Washington Kennewick Mission; two granddaughters, Maren Young and Gabriela Nielsen, and another grandchild on the way. He is also survived by his parents, Thad and Nedra Nielsen, Richfield; four brothers and one sister: Randy (Ana) Nielsen and Natalie Nielsen, both Salt Lake City; Brent (Jan) Nielsen, Stansbury Park; Stacy Jon (Amanda) Nielsen, Sandy; and Kirk Nielsen, Taylorsville; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Glenwood LDS Ward, 225 E. Center, where friends may call from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Elsinore Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.

In lieu of flowers, please take someone you love out to eat in Russell’s memory, or make a donation to the American Diabetes Association.